Blister knife

ABSTRACT

A device for opening blister packs without annular depressions around the blisters serving as guidance trails is provided comprising a handle and a cutter having a suitable transverse dimension and form of cross section at the position of the intended cutting, making it suitable for cutting the foil of the type used in blister packs, and for opening any pack or container wrapped in a foil or any other cutable material or tape used for packaging as such. A preferred cutter is having cutter formed essentially as a rod and further provided with a point in order to facilitate penetration of foils. The device may be provided with means for protection of the cutter in order to avoid unintended cuts during storage and transport. The handle of the device may be shaped in order to facilitate the use by elderly and/or patients suffering from a rheumatic disease. The device is versatile and simple to use and may provide a relief of a long felt problem for nurses and other medical staffs, elder patients and in particular patients suffering from a rheumatic disease.

The present invention relates to a tool for opening of blister packs. Inparticular the invention relates to tool for opening blister packs formedicines.

BACKGROUND FOR THE INVENTION

During the last decade blister packing has been increasingly morepopular for packaging of medicine, creams, lotions etc, typically pills.

Blister packs typically consists of a sheet of a plastic material havinga number of blisters each formed in order to receive a pill of a certainsize. The open end of the blisters are closed after filling with a foil,typically a metal foil that has to be broken before the containedproduct can be released for use.

The user has to press the blister on the plastic side in order to breakthe metal foil by force and release the content.

Several advantages are connected to blister packing of pills. Forexample are the pills stable and protected from dirt, moist and to someextend against impacts. In addition it is possible to print e.g. thename of the pills on the blister pack, which facilitates theidentification of the pills when removed from the primary packing.

The main problem by the use of blister packs is the force that has to beapplied to the pack in order to release the pills. During a working daynurses and other medical staff may have to administer a large number ofpills e.g. 300-600 pills per day, and as the number of pills that aresupplied in blister packs has increased damages in hands and joints hasbeen encountered among nurses and medical staff.

Elderly patients and in particular patients suffering from a rheumatoiddisease are having troubles opening blister packs in order to releasepills.

Further, as force has to be applied to blister packs in order to releasethe pills, these are always released with a certain momentum with theconsequence that pills are easily dropped. This may further contributeto the discomfort encountered by these patients using medicines suppliedin blister packs.

A number at approaches has been taken in order to address thesedisadvantages of blister packs.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,603 a blister pack provided with a slit in orderto ease the opening is disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,793 discloses ablister pack provided with a frame connected to a pivotal lever, whichcan be actuated in order to open the blister, and U.S. Pat. No.5,816,404 discloses a blister pack provided with an opening systemcomprising two upstanding spaced walls forming a slot that can beaffected by e.g. a coin in order to turn the system, which opens theblister and releases the pill. Even though the above may be animprovement of opening the blister packs designed according to saiddocuments the problem is not solved as such because the vast majority ofmedicaments are still supplied in blister packs without the describedopening facilities.

An apparatus for opening blister packs is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,975,015 provided with a particular arranged knife in order to openblister packs. In use the blister pack is fixed in a drawer like part ofthe apparatus and moved towards a stationary knife, which cuts theblister and releases the content into a funnel, which guides it down toa collection area. Even thought this apparatus may be well suited toopen large numbers of blister packs it represents a large apparatus thatis not easily transported and can not be expected that ordinary patientshave such an apparatus available at home.

In EP 0 629 554 A1 a device for pressing objects from blister packs isdisclosed. In the device one side of the blister pack rests on a rib,while the blister to be empties rests on a boss. By pressing a tab theblister pack is forced down on the boss and the blister breaks andreleases its content into a receiver section. Thus, the blister pack andthe device have to be adapted for each other so that one device can onlybe used for one size of blister pack.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,071 disclose a child resistant blister packcomprising an annular depression in the blister pack around each blistercovered with a lid that is sufficient resistant to prevent children torelease tablets contained the blisters. In order to open these blisterpacks a sharp tool must be used to penetrate the lid in the annulardepression and subsequently said tool should be run around the annulardepression and thereby releasing the tablet contained in the blister inthe annular depression. Thus the annular depression around each blisterserves as a guidance trail for the tool. Even though this invention havebeen known for some years now the use of said system seems to have hadlittle attention within the area as the major part of blister marketedat present do not have any guidance trails as required according to theprovisions of U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,071.

Despite the above mentioned prior art there is still a need for a devicefor opening blister packs without guidance trails, which device isversatile, simple to use and may be operated by elderly patients,particular patients suffering from rheumatic diseases.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is achieved by a device for opening blisterpacks without guidance trails comprising a handle and a cutter whereinthe cutter is having a suitable transverse dimension and form of crosssection at its position of the intended cutting, making it suitable toserve its purpose.

The invention is based on the surprising realisation that a cutterhaving such a transverse dimension and form of cross section at itsposition of intended cutting is able to cut or tear a foil of the typeused in blister packs without guidance trails in any direction eventhough not guidance trails are provided to guide the cutting tools.

It has surprisingly been found that blister packs without guidancetrails easily can be opened using a device according to the invention.In use the cutter is pressed through the foil covering the blister andis moved partially or complete essentially around the circumference ofthe blister whereby the blister is opened and the contained medicamentis freed regardless is any particular means are provided in the blisterpacks in order to facilitate cutting of the foil covering the tablets,such as guidance trails. Thus in contrast to U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,071 thedevise for cutting opening blister packs according to the invention maybe use to open blister packs regardless if particular provisions such asguidance trails are provided in the blister packs.

In one preferred embodiment the cutter is provided with a point in orderto ease the penetration of the foil covering the blister packs.

In another preferred embodiment the cutter is further provided withmeans for protection during storage and handling in order to avoidunintended cuts.

In still another preferred embodiment the handle is shaped as a shaft ofa pen. In this embodiment e.g. nurses may keep the device in a pocketuntil the time and place where the medicament has to be administered toa patient, and thus the medicament can be contained in the protectiveblister until immediately before is it administered.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the FIGS. 1-4 different embodiments of the resent invention aredisclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention the cutter is having suitable transversedimension and form of cross section at its position of the intendedcutting, making it suitable to serve its purpose.

The term “suitable transverse dimension and form of cross section” inthe present description intended to mean that the dimension and theshape of the cross section of the cutter is suited to easily be able tocut or tear foils of the type used in blister packs. The person skilledin the art will by simple routine experiment be able to determine if agiven transverse dimension is having a suitable transverse dimension andform of the cross section according to the invention.

The term “at the position of the intended cutting” with respect of thecutter according to the present invention is intended to mean the actualposition of the cutter where it is in contact with the foil during thecutting. The position of the intended cutting is usually located at thetip of the cutter, such as within 5 mm from the tip of the cutter,preferably within 3 mm from the tip of the cutter.

The transverse dimension of the cutter at the position of the intendedcut is preferably less than about 4 mm, more preferred in the range of0.01 to 4 mm, more preferred in the range of 0.01 to 3 mm, even morepreferred in the range of 0.01 to 2 mm and most preferred approximately0.5 mm.

According to the invention the cutter is formed having a suitabletransverse dimension and form of cross section at the position ofintended cutting to allow the cutter to be able to cut in practicallyall directions.

This may be effected by designing the cross section of the cutterwithout any distinct edge that may improve the cutting in one directionbut impair the cutting in other directions.

Examples of suitable forms of the cross section of the cutter accordingto the invention are: circular, elliptical, polygonal such astriangular, squared or hexagonal, star shaped, rectangular and possiblecombinations thereof, where a circular or elliptical cross section ispreferred. The edges of a polygonal shaped cutter may be sharpned orblunted.

It is preferred that the cutter is formed as an essential round rod.

The term “essential round” in connection with the rod of the cutter isintended to mean that the ratio of the longest transverse dimension tothe shortest transverse dimension of the cross section is less that 3,preferably less that 2 and most preferred less that 1.5.

The diameter of the rod of the cutter is intended to mean the largesttransverse dimension of the rod at approximately the position of theintended cutting.

The diameter of the cutter determines its cutting properties; a thin rodcuts better that a thicker. Therefore it is preferred to use a thin rod.On the other hand a thin rod will have less mechanical strength, whichmay lead to shorter lifetime of a devise having a thin rod compared to athicker. Thus the person skilled in the art will appreciate that thethickness of the rod is selected taking proper considerations to thecutting properties of the rod and the mechanical strength.

Alternatively the cutter may be designed, as a small knife where theblade is so slim that the alteration of direction of the cut can beeffected easily by the movement of the handle with use of a minimalforce. The small knife may also be mounted on the handle in a way thatsecures an essentially free rotation around an axis perpendicular to theplane of the foil during operation in order to avoid that the device hasa preferred direction of cutting.

The cutter may be made of any material having the desired mechanicalstrength. Typical the cutter is made of a metal e.g. iron or steel,where steel is a preferred material. Thus a cutter made of a materialhaving a high mechanical strength such as steel may be thinner than acutter made of a material made of a material having a smaller mechanicalstrength.

The cutter may be provided with a point in order to facilitate thepenetration of the foil.

In a preferred embodiment the cutter has a shape of a rod having adiameter of approximately 0.5 mm.

In another preferred embodiment the cutter has a shape of a rod having adiameter of approximately 0.5 mm further provided with a point.

In one embodiment the cutter is shaped as a shaft having in one end asmall point with a smaller diameter than the shaft where the point has alength of 1-2 mm. This design of the cutter secures a high strengthsimultaneously with outstanding cutting properties.

The device may be provided with means for protection of the cutterduring transport, storage and handling of the device in order to avoidunintended cuts.

Examples of means for protection are a protective hood for the cutter,or a cutter arranged to be movable and capable of being located in atleast an advanced position and a rejected position where an actuatorfurther is provided in order to switch between these positions.

The term “advanced position” in relation the cutter according to thelatter embodiment is intended to mean that the cutter is projecting outof the handle so that it is free and able to cut the foil of the blisterpack. The term “rejected position” means that the cutter is drawn intothe handle so that the device can be handled and transported withoutrisk for unintended cuts by the cutter. The at least two positions ofthe cutter in the device according to this embodiment secures that thedevice on one hand can be transported and stored without risk forunintended cuts in surrounding materials, and at the other time that thecutter can be advanced and in position for use when needed. The actuatoris provided in order to be able to switch between the at least twopositions for the needle. The positioning mechanism for the inventionaccording to the invention may be any mechanism known per se e.g. fromthe area of writing instruments.

The handle may serve different purposes in the device according to theinvention. First it provides a good grip for the user, which securesthat the device, can be easily used with precision. Second the handleprovides a cover for the positioning and for the cutter in rejectedposition if the devise is equipped with such. The handle may be formedin any shape that fulfils these purposes.

Examples, of designs of the device according to the invention are shownin FIG. 1-4.

A preferred shape for the handle according to the invention is the shapeof a pen.

Another preferred shape for the handle is a shape that is designed tofacilitate use by elderly people or in particular patients sufferingfrom rheumatic diseases.

In use the cutter of the devise penetrates the foil of a blister pack,and the devise is moved completely or partly around along thecircumference of the blister. If the devise is moved completely aroundthe circumference of the blister the foil that covered the pill will bereleased and fall into the blister, if the devise is only movedpartially around the circumference the foil that covered the pill willbe connected to the blister pack at on edge of the blister. After thefoil has been cut the blister pack can be tilted or turned around andthe pill will fall out of the blister. In this way the pill can easilybe put into a receiving device such as a pill glass or into the hand ofthe user.

Even though the invention in this description has been described mainlyfor use with blister packs containing medicaments, the person skilled inthe art will appreciate that the device also may be used in any instancewhere a foil or a cutable wrapping or tape has to be removed in order toopen pack or a container.

In this connection “cutable wrapping or tape” is intended to mean anysuch wrapping or tape that is commonly used within packaging. Theskilled person may easily using routine experiments determine is a givenwrapping or tape is cutable.

EXAMPLE

A device according to the figure was made by replacement of the inkcartridge from a pen with a cutter made of a needle having a thicknessof approximately 0.5 mm.

Using this device several blister packs containing pills were easilyopened and the pills released. Next the blister packs were tilted andthe medicament fell out of the blister pack into the hand of the user orinto a pill glass as desired.

1. Use of a device comprising a handle and a cutter having a suitabletransverse dimension and form of cross section at the position of theintended cutting, making it suitable for cutting the foil of the typeused in blister packs for opening blister packs without annulardepressions around the blisters and a foil serving as a lid, or forcutting a foil or wrapping used for packaging.
 2. Use according to claim1, wherein the transverse dimension of the cutter at the position of theintended cutting is less than 4 mm.
 3. Use according to claim 2, whereinthe transverse dimension of the cutter at the position of the intendedcutting is in the range of 0.01 to 2 mm.
 4. Use according to claim 1,wherein the cutter is. provided with a point.
 5. Use according to claim1, where the handle is formed as a shaft of a pen.
 6. Use according toclaim 1, wherein the transverse section at the position of the intendedcutting has a shape selected from: circular, elliptical, polygonal suchas triangular, squared or hexagonal, star shaped, rectangular andpossible combinations thereof.
 7. Use according to claim 1, wherein thedevice further comprises means for protection of the cutter.
 8. Useaccording to claim 7, wherein the device comprises a retractable cutterthat may be positioned in at least an advanced position and a retractedposition and a actuator for changing position of the cutter between saidpositions.
 9. Use according to claim 1, where the handle is formed in ashape that facilitates the grip of a patient suffering of a rheumaticdisease.
 10. Device for opening blister packs without annulardepressions around the blisters and a foil serving as a lid, comprisinga handle and a cutter having a suitable transverse dimension and form ofcross section at the position of the intended cutting, making itsuitable for cutting the foil of the type used in blister packs or forcutting a foil or wrapping used for packaging.
 11. Device according toclaim 10, wherein the transverse dimension of the cutter at the positionof the intended cutting is less than 4 mm.
 12. Device according to claim11, wherein the transverse dimension of the cutter at the position ofthe intended cutting is in the range of 0.01 to 2 mm.
 13. Deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the cutter is provided with a point. 14.Device according to claim 10, wherein the handle is formed as a shaft ofa pen.
 15. Device according to claim 10, wherein the transverse sectionat the position of the intended cutting has a shape selected from:circular, elliptical, polygonal such as triangular, squared orhexagonal, star shaped, rectangular and possible combinations thereof.16. Device according to claim 10, further comprising means forprotection of the cutter.
 17. Device according to claim 16, comprising aretractable cutter that may be positioned in at least an advancedposition and a retracted position and a actuator for changing positionof the cutter between said positions.
 18. Device according to claim 10,where the handle is formed in a shape that facilitates the grip of apatient disease suffering of a rheumatic disease.